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No. 380,420. Patented Apr. 3; 1888.

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ALBERT B. BLACKBURN, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO ELIJAH F. DARBY, OF SAME PLACE.

ESPRING SEAT FOR CHAIRS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,420, dated April 3, 1888.

Application filed December 13, 1887. Serial No. 257,769. (No model.)

To caZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT B. BLACKBURN, of Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Seats for Chairs and Analogous Articles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to spring -sea-ts for chairs, sofas, stools, and analogous articles of to furniture; and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the same, as herein after set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of a chair provided with my im- 1 proved springseat; Fig. 2, a similar view of a slightly-different arrangement of the parts, and Fig. 3 a top plan view.

A indicates the body or frame of the chair, which may be of any desired size or shape.

WVithin the frame of the chair are secured cross-bars B, which will be fixed rigidly in position within the frame, so as to sustain the weight of the occupant.

0 indicates blocks which are pivoted at their outer ends to brackets D, secured to the crossbars, as in Figs. 1 and 3, or secured to the frame of the chair, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The construction of the blocks 0 and brackets D is a matter capable of considerable variation, and I do not wish to limit myself to the use of any particular form of either.

The pivoted blocks C- bear at their free ends, which are higher than their outer ends, upon coiled springs E, as shown in all the figures,

3 5 the said springs resting upon the cross bars D and connected at opposite ends with the blocks and cross-bars, so as to prevent displacement. At their inner ends the blocks 0 will advisably be connected, loosely, by means of links or wires a, with a ring, F, as shown in Fig. 3, in order to equalize, to a considerable extent, the movement of the various blocks. It is of course immaterial how many of the blocks and springs be used, it being desirable in some cases to use three and in others five or six, according to the size and shape of the chair. Of course in sofas and similar odd-shaped articles the number will be varied to suit the re quirements of the article.

By making the seat as in Figs. 1 and 3-that is to say, by pivoting the blocks (3 to brackets secured to the cross bars or frame B, the frame B and attendant parts may be readily removed for repairs without injuring the chair'body.

The invention is designed particularly for use in connection with upholstered articles, and it will be observed that there is little liability of the springs cutting the upholstering material.

The seat is easy and is cheap and simple in construction, and, furthermore, may be sold to the trade to be applied to any of the standard makes of chairs, as it is only necessary to vary the position of the springs and blocks relatively to the frame B when the brackets are secured to the latter. When, however, the brackets are secured to the chair-body, as in Fig. 3, there is even less trouble in adapting the seat to the chair-frame.

The blocks 0, brackets D, and frame B may be made of wood or metal; but I prefer to make them of wood to render their fitting more easy.

The cross-bars B will advisabl y be connected so as to form, in effect, a rigid frame, and may 7 5 be secured within the chair-frame in any suitable Inanner.

I am aware that a chair-seat has been patented in which a series of sectorshaped blocks are pivoted to the seat-frame and supported at or near their pivots by rubber springs, but unsupported at their free ends, and to such a construction I make no claim. My construction differs from this, first, in supporting the blocks at their free ends upon springs, and, second, in making the frame upon which the springs rest separate from the chair-frame, the frame with attendant parts being made separate from the chair and sold to the trade, so as to be applied to chairs of varying sizes and 0 shapes. Under my plan the outer ends of the blocks forming the seat are not exposed and are not liable to cut the upholstering, as they are inclosed within the chair-frame. placing the springs at the inner ends of the blocks 5 I secure all the elasticity of action that is necessary or desirable and obviate the tendency to breakage that is present where the springs are placed near the pivots of the blocks.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is I 1. In combination with achairor analogous article of furniture having a frame, a second frame adapted to be applied to the chair-frame, springs supported by said second frame, and pivoted blocks supported at their inner ends upon the springs. all substantially as shown.

2. In combination with a chair-frame, asec- 0nd frame, as B,- springs E, resting upon the frame B, brackets D, and blocks 0, pivoted to the brackets and resting upon the springs and connected at their inner ends.

3. In combination with a chair-frame, A, a second frame, B, adapted to fit within the former, a series of pivoted blocks, 0, and a series of springs, E, resting upon the frame '3 and supporting the inner free ends of the blocks, 15

resting upon the springs, loops or Wires a, se- 20 cured to the blocks 0, and ring F, connected with the loops, allsubstantially as shown.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT B. BLACKBURN. Witnesses:

WM. B. HQRNER, P. B. MARTIN. 

